Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty ImagesHigh flying Hawks took the rebounds and the win from the Celtics
The loss to the now 9-2 Atlanta Hawks is easy to sum up: Rebounding. The Hawks are a young and legitimate fast paced squad that rebounded the ball like there was no tomorrow and the result was a 97-86 upset win Friday night at the Garden. The Celtics were simply not quick or aggressive enough on the offensive and defensive boards. Hawks-47 (16 offensive), Celtics-29 (6 offensive). Their old age and lack of energy showed, and it was ugly.

You know who the Celts are missing right now? Glen “Big Baby” Davis. Currently out with an ignorantly obtained thumb injury, Big Baby is just 23 years old, and knows how to put a serious body on the other team. KG isn’t getting as many boards as the past; You can tell his knee still isn’t fully healed.

Reason #2 for the loss: No three-point game. 1/15 ain’t gunna cut it boys. Although you never want to live or die by the three, it sure looks like the Celtics might be. When the threes aren’t falling, somebody has to get the rebound, and it sure wasn’t the Celtics this time.

Now let’s talk about the 113-104 loss at the Indiana Pacers which occurred the very next night.

The Celtics corrected their rebounding problem, but failed in other aspects.
Reason #1: Defensive failure. Yes, I know Danny Granger is filthy and was shooting lights out (8/16 total and 6-9 from downtown), but you can’t let one guy beat you. A little help side please? A little more effort contesting the shots perhaps? The C’s were getting rocked up and down the court, too. And 113 points? That’s way over their league leading 97 points allowed per game average.

Paul Pierce, a game-time decision with a bruised knee, said afterward he felt as if he hurt the team defensively by guarding Dahntay Jones (25 points).

"Danny Granger getting 29 points, you live with that," Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said. "The other guys hit crucial shots at the end. They had more energy. Their transition defense was incredible at times. At the end of the day, they just played harder. Down the stretch, we didn't hold our composure like we should have."

Ray Allen chimed in on the defense, or lack of it. "That's what we live on," Allen said of the Celtics' defense. "To not adjust to what they were doing, it's boggling to my mind."
Allen has been getting to the hoop lately, and scored a team high 24 points in the loss at Indiana.

Another reoccurring issue was the three pointer, something the Celtics characteristically have no problem with. The Celts were once again without their sniper rifles in hostile enemy territory, and shot just 3/12. That’s an absolutely dismal 4/27 in the past two games.

The bench, believed to be one of the best in the NBA needs to contribute more, too. Eddie House has not been getting or making his shots lately, and trigger-happy Rasheed Wallace has been coming up empty. Though, Shelden Williams has been playing solid (10 points, 9 rebounds vs. Pacers) and even had a sweet alley-oop finish. These three, along with Marquis Daniels, need to provide some more spark when Pierce and company are resting.

Next game: Golden State Warriors at Boston on Wednesday night, November 18th. The Celtics have had plenty of rest for this one. It’s now a matter of correcting issues and adjusting to opponent strategies. A lot of teams get up mentally when they play the highly esteemed and praised Celtics. When that happens, we just need to execute like veteran winners. Top priority: slow down Monta Ellis.